A man whose best friend died by his side as they slept rough in Belfast is ‘stepping up’ for the charity that helped him out of homelessness.
Gifted musician Aaron has been forced onto the streets of our city more than once after losing his home.
He was just 21 when he first found himself alone and out in the cold, but his story is one of success.
Because despite everything Aaron suffered, the 24-year-old managed to avoid drugs or the fate of those who lost their lives sleeping rough in recent years.
He told Belfast Live: “My longest spell of homelessness was a year.
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“I went from fully furnished accommodation to sleeping on the street, so it was a big step down.
“From day one I went straight to Dawson’s Music because I’m a musician. I found a bit of comfort in that place and met another fella there who was playing classical piano.
“I recognised the piece he was playing and got to know him and we ended up being best friends.
“It’s a lot easier to be homeless if you are sleeping rough if you have someone in the same position, who’s doing it with you.
“We just tried to make the most fun of our day and often went and slept in Botanic Gardens underneath the band stand where you are sheltered from the weather.
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“But you were still freezing though and some nights you couldn’t get to sleep because it was too cold.
“Last winter and the winter before people were found dead in the street because they didn’t have blankets or the right clothing or hats on - you need to keep warm. It was a hard time adjusting to that.”
Sadly Aaron’s friend died by his side aged just 21.
“He was a user and essentially just one day I woke up and he was dead beside me,” he explained.
“He wasn’t a junkie, he knew he had an addiction and did it in a controlled environment. I think he got something that really wasn’t heroin, we will never really know.
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“When you are homeless and you get into hard drugs like heroin it digs you into a deep, deep hole. That’s a dark road to go down.”
Losing his pal, however, motivated Aaron to get off the streets.
He added: “It made me realise life is precious, you can be here one day and gone the next.”
But still, he said: “I don’t regret being homeless.
“No one deserves to be homeless, but if you are sensible enough it would build anyone’s character and make them stronger if they don’t get involved in drugs.
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“There’s plenty of outreach, so you never go hungry,” he added. “You can go to the Welcome Centre to get your washing and drying done, a shower and a hot meal.”
But, he said there were real challenges when it came to accommodation.
“In some cases you can get a night shelter,” he added. “It’s like emergency accommodation but it’s smaller than a jail cell, with just a rubber mattress in a room.
“They throw you out at 7am in the morning so you are wandering for two hours until shops, the library or the Welcome Centre opens.
“It wasn’t fun but it was a learning experience.
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“Not many people take pity or go over and see if you are ok.”
Aaron said he tried to fill his days busking with his guitar, skating in the park or visiting libraries and music shops to keep himself “in a good mental state”.
“I always made sure I had strings on my guitar and went busking for a few extra quid,” he added.
Keen to make something of himself, Aaron is now putting his life back together with help from the Simon Community and has been training hard for the Belfast City Marathon 9-mile walk to help them raise vital funds for people like him.
“As soon as I landed here I got a bit more stability,” he added.
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“A lot of things have come to light that make me want to be better for myself and other people. I want to improve myself and I think with the right frame of mind anyone can.
“Simon Community has made a significant impact. The staff are 100% the best part. They are very open and honest and willing to sit down and talk to you. Anything you need, they’ve got your back.”
Aaron is one of 21 ‘Simon steppers’ taking on the marathon walk for the Simon Community on May 5.
Click here to donate to their cause.
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